Elizabeth Janette “Betty” Sanders, 80, of La Grande, and a former Baker City resident, died April 5, 2001, at a local care center.
A celebration of life will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., in La Grande. The Rev. Vernon Slippy of the Grande Ronde Community Church officiating and with the participation of the American Legion.
Ms. Sanders was born Oct. 27, 1920, at Toppenish, Wash., to Carlton Joseph Sr. and Elizabeth Sheppard Waltz. She graduated from Baker High School in 1938 and attended Linfield College before entering the Navy during World War II. She was a Link Instrument Trainer and taught pilots how to navigate using instruments.
She married Burl Courtney in Weiser, Idaho, and attended both Eastern Oregon State College and Long Beach State College in California. She taught school until her retirement.
Later she married Jim Sanders in Los Angeles and returned to Baker City in 1985. She moved to La Grande recently to be near her family.
She was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Baker City, where she had served as receiving treasurer, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Order of Eastern Star, the auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and served as commander of the American Legion. She was a CASA volunteer and was active in the senior citizens’ organization in Baker City. She enjoyed traveling and had visited Europe, Australia and Mexico.
Survivors include her sons, John Courtney of Cove and Rod Courtney of Downey, Calif.; two grandsons and five great-grandchildren; a brother, C.J. Waltz of Pendleton; a sister, Beverly Kennedy of Bremerton, Wash.; and other relatives.
Contributions in Ms. Sanders’ memory may be made to the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression in care of Daniels Chapels of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande, OR 97850.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 13, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor